Amber consists of the naturally hardened, fossilized resin of ancient pine trees, therefore not actually being a stone as many people think. There are several different types of amber having different compositions. The oldest of the material is transparent amber and is approximately 120-180 million years old. At approximately 60 million years old is what is called opaque amber or often called copal. The variety called bone amber is identified by containing literally thousands of very tiny air bubbles. All varieties are very soft in composition, can easily be cut and will take an exquisite and lustrous finish. The fossilized material will actually float in sea water due to its very low specific gravity.

As you may have noticed, when purchasing amber jewelry, many times small insects and other materials have been imbedded in the sticky tree sap during the fossilization process. The most common colors of the material range from dark brown to a pale yellow, orange, red whitish, greenish or bluish. By far the most common colors are brown, yellow and orange. Regardless of the color, it has a very universal appeal and is in great demand, especially in the community of antique collectors. Perhaps the most common and desired material used in amber jewelry is recovered from the very extensive deposits located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Its beautiful yellowish brown color is unique and distinguished from the dark red to orange color of Sicilian amber or the Roumanian and Chinese varieties. Baltic amber jewelry is truly beautiful when made in combination with sterling silver or gold. The most extensive uses of the material are in making beads, boxes and various carved objects with ornamental appeal. It is today, more and more frequently used in the creation of unique sterling silver amber jewelry items and more often in designs with contemporary appeal when compared to the more antique or costume style designs of the past.